Enzymatics, a producer of reagents, kits and assays, has acquired Boulder Colo.-based ArcherDx, a developer of NGS-based kits and software solutions for use in investigating cancer treatment. The deal consists of cash, equity and potential milestones worth up to $50 million.

Enzymatics adds genomic capabilities complementary to its Enzymatics Supply Chain Solutions and Enzymatics Reagents groups and expands its new Enzymatics Diagnostics group with technology, kits and analytical software to provide hospitals and research institutions with a total solution to rapidly and cost-effectively detect and assess genetic biomarkers. ArcherDx technology has several advantages in copy number variation and translocation analyses, and results are obtained quicker than current methods, offering a more cost-effective approach to healthcare.

"An unprecedented growth in genomics for healthcare is fueling greater demand for faster, more accurate, and more cost effective sequencing applications. We are seeing double-digit growth in the placement of new sequencers every year and broad adoption of genomic technologies across clinical communities. Enzymatics, which already supplies reagents and kits to approximately 80% of the NGS industry, together with ArcherDx, will bring novel sequencing applications more directly to clinical researchers," said Jon DiVincenzo, Enzymatics' president and chief executive officer.

Jason Myers, Ph.D., co-founder and chief executive officer of ArcherDx, has joined Enzymatics as chief scientific officer. Prior to founding ArcherDx, Myers held various positions at Ion Torrent by Life Technologies. He was a group leader, managing a cross-functional product development team dedicated to collaborations with thought-leading customers. Myers joined Ion Torrent as a Senior Scientist, developing novel template preparation methods and a range of sequencing applications for the PGM System, including amplicon and RNA sequencing methods. He also facilitated the launch of the first PGM Systems and managed customer relationships to collaboratively improve the PGM sequencing workflow and technology.